Process of obtaining alloys of aluminium



(No Model.)

L. Q. ERIN. PROCESS OF OBTAINING ALLOYS 0F ALUMINIUM.

No. 410,574. Patented Sept. 10', 1889.

W/TIVESSES IN VENTOR. I

N PETERS, Phom-Lilhognpber Walhmgicn. n.c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEON QUENTIN BRIN, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

PROCESS OF OBTAINING ALLOYS OF ALUMINIUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,574, datedSeptember 10, 1889.

Application filed January 24, 1889. Serial No. 297,440. (No model)Patented in France March 6, 1888, No. 189,171, and in Belgium March 7,1888, No. 80,909-

To all 10710772, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEON QUENTIN ERIN, engineer, of 6 Rue WilhemAuteuil, Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in theProcess of Obtaining Alloys of Aluminium, (for which I have obtainedLetters Patent in the following countries, namely: France, dated March6, 1888, No. 189,171, and Belgium, dated March 7, 1888, No. 80,909,) ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a new system of metallurgical treatment forobtaining alloys of aluminium with other metals. This improved systemcomprises a process which yields therefor new and important commencialresults.

The process consists in placing the metal to be alloyed and a mixture offlux containing aluminous clay or aluminous salt or earth and commonsalt (or other suitable chloride) upon and in direct contact with a bedof fuel, and in then igniting said fuel and subjecting said metal andmixture to a melting heat in the immediate presence of the burning fuel,thereby effecting the reduction of aluminium and alloying it directlywith said metal.

The operation is or may be effected in an apparatus similar in manyrespects to a blastfurnace, such as is generally employed byironfounders.

The accompanying drawing represents a Vertical transverse section of afurnace suitable for carrying out my process.

In carrying this process into effect I take copper, iron, or other metalin the form of sheets, lumps, granules, or bars, and having, itnecessary, cleansed them, I immerse or coat them with a compositionformed by mixing the following ingredients: Clay or ore rich in alumina,one hundred parts; chloride of sodium, one hundred and twenty-fiveparts; borax, twenty-five parts; fluor-spar, fifteen parts, trituratedwith sufficient water to form an adherent paste or mud. Another suitablemixture consists of clay or ore rich in alumina, one hundred parts;chloride of sodium, one hundred and twenty-five parts; borax, ten parts.In subsequent operations I replace or omit the borax and employ in lieuthereof gas-coke broken into small pieces.

twice the weight of pulverized slag obtained from previous operations.These proportions may be varied in accordance with experience andaccording to the nature of the metal to be alloyed. The quantity of theabove fluxes required for each operation will be about ten per cent. ofthe'weight of the metal treated.

The furnace is charged as follows: Upon a bed of shavings or straw isplaced a layer of Upon this is placed a layer of metal coated or mingledwith a mixture of flux prepared in accordance with the above directions,and upon this is placed a final layer of small coke. If the furnace belarge, two or more alternate layers of metal and fuel may be employed.The fire being lighted and a blast admitted, the metal is soon melted,and at the same time the salts of alumina are reduced to metallicaluminium, which at once combines with the copper or other metal andforms an alloy. If an alloy'containing a higher percentage of aluminiumis required, the metal thus obtained is then treated as if it were apure metal, and the above operation is repeated as often as may benecessary until the desired percentage of aluminium is obtained.

The mixture or flux above described may be enriched by employingchloride of aluminium or other aluminous salts in lieu of the clay, ormixed therewith and with the other materials; but the employment of analuminium salt is costly and generally unnecessary.

The furnace used in this operation resembles the ordinary blast-furnacegenerally employed by iron-founders but, in order to avoid the loss ofany products which may be carried off by the draft, the furnace isprovided with a chimney or escape-pipe of suiiicient diameter to affordfree outlet to the gases. These gases may be passed into a muffle andutilized in forming aluminium alloys, in the manner described in anotherapplication for Letters Patent of even date herewith; or, preferably,the pipe or tube may be allowed to dip its mouth just under the surfaceof water or other suitable fiuid in a tank, wherein the products carriedofi by the blast will be condensed and retained as byproducts. I preferto furnish the mouth of the pipe with a rose pierced with small holes,so as to bring the gases into more intimate contact with the water orother arresting-fluid.

Although I prefer a blast-furnace, the comparatively-low temperature atwhich these alloys melt enables me to alloy and melt iron and aluminiumin an ordinary furnace Without the use of a blast.

Iron, cast-iron, steel, and other metals may be treated according tothis invention with like facility and advantage, and will produce alloysof great industrial value.

In the accompanying drawing, a represents the furnace; b, the chimney orescape-tube; c, the tank, containing water or other fluid; d, theblast-pipe or tuyere; e, the running-hole for drawing off the metal; f,a ladle or ingotmold placed beneath it.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is- The herein-described process of producing burning fuel,thereby effecting the reduction of aluminium and alloying it directlyWith said metal, as specified.

The foregoing specification of my improvements in the process forobtaining alloys of aluminium, and particularly aluminium bronze, signedby me this 8th day of January,

LEON QUENTIN ERIN.

Witnesses:

PERCY K. \VOODWARD, WiLMnR M. HARRIS, 7 Both of 17 Gmccchurch Street,London, E. O.

